Odom, Lowe Head Faca Nominees

July 15, 1986|By Bill Buchalter of the Sentinel Staff

Merritt Island's Gerald Odom and Leesburg's Buddy Lowe have been nominated for induction into the 1987 Florida Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame next March in Orlando. Odom, who has enjoyed success as football and softball coach and athletic director, also will be recognized for his service to the FACA. Lowe is the longtime baseball coach at Leesburg who also is being recognized for his dedication to the sport and his work as baseball chairman.

Others nominated include Jacksonville Raines track coach and athletic director Jimmy Day, who has coached more professional athletes than any in state history; Palatka's Billy Bennett, a veteran football and baseball coach and athletic director; and Dana Wallace, from Plantation, who is credited with bringing athletic trainers into the high school programs and working with FACA and school administration for improving sports trainers.

Texas sprint and jump sensation Carlette Guidry liked Showalter Field's track so much she indicated an interest in returning to compete in the spring's Orlando Sentinel Golden South Classic. Guidry established two records at the Pan-Am Junior Athletics Championships and will be a senior at Houston Sterling High School this fall. . . . The success of the Pan-Am can be attributed to the work of many high school track coaches who devoted their time, particularly Phil Newlon and Ted Benz of Orlando Edgewater, John Hemmer and Bill Stamper of Orlando Oak Ridge, John O'Brien and Mike Slewchuk of Winter Park, Ken Brauman of Sanford Seminole, Doug Blackwell of Casselberry Lake Howell, Fred Finke of Longwood Lyman and Jeff Kremer of Titusville Astronaut among others.

New Orlando Boone track coach Paul Katauskas won a couple of events at the recent Sunshine State Games track competition.

The Governor's Cup basketball tournament, scheduled for Dec. 25-30 at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, will attract 16 schools from Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Georgia teams include powerful Atlanta Douglass and Bainbridge.